70 Dark Comedy Movies for People With a Messed Up Sense of Humor
If you enjoy laughing at things people don't usually laugh at, we've got the perfect picks for you.
Sometimes, the funniest things we come across are things we shouldn't necessarily be laughing at. Maybe we're laughing, deep down, at the absurdity of a moment or idea, or the outrageousness of a situation that we simply cannot believe. But that's why movies that either incorporate or fully embrace dark comedy can be some of the very best—it allows viewers a way to recognize, understand, and unilaterally agree that some of these things are bad and shouldn't be funny, but that by golly the filmmaker has figured out a way.
When we recognize that the people presenting jokes to us are, in fact, in on the joke, the entire context changes. Rather than feeling obligated to condemn behavior that is unacceptable, we can recognize the outlandishness of the actions, behaviors, or happenings, and laugh at them.
Some instances of dark humor are naturally going to go further than others. For example, it's fair to argue that Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat character is dark comedy at its core; this character uses an audience that knows he's not sincere to expose a number of darknesses in the world. Other examples could get more violent, like someone "accidentally" getting shot in the face in a crime movie, or someone removing their belt to tie a noose only for their pants to fall to the ground. There are different layers and different levels to dark comedy, but in any manner, you're going to need some thick skin to appreciate it.
And for that matter, we've done the research. Sure, romantic comedies can be nice and sometimes funny, and there are many other subgenres you can just watch and feel good about. But for the purposes of this list, we're looking at comedy that gets dark. Comedy that makes light of the worst of humanity—and makes viewers' lives better for the whole laughing thing.
Ready or Not (2019)
Ready or Not is the perfect movie to kick off this list. This story of a young woman (Samara Weaving) marrying into a rich, legacy family takes a stunning twist early and never looks back. And if you don't know where the story goes, well, we don't want to be the ones to tell you—but things get bloody and violent and we really scrape at human depravity. The movie sits somewhere in between horror and thriller, but throughout it remains a sharp, biting satire of class differences, and keeps audiences laughing through every twisted and dark turn.
Get Out (2017)
Obviously, Jordan Peele—the Academy Award-winning horror filmmaker behind both Get Out and Us—comes from a comedy background, having been a part of the cast of MadTV and leading his own comedy series in Key & Peele. Which makes sense when you watch his first movie, Get Out. Get Out is only Get Out because it's made by someone who knows how to so perfectly line moments of humor, levity, and satire into its otherwise chilling social thriller premise. You remember the teacup scene, and some of the thrilling climactic moments, but is it the same movie without laughing at Bradley Whitford's Dean boasting how he would've voted for Obama for a third time if he could?
Midsommar (2019)
Midsommar is one of the most disturbing movies you'll ever see—and also one of the brightest, aesthetically, on the list. A couple moments of brutal, can't-get-this-out-of-your-head violence (and Florence Pugh's mostly horrified performance) are balanced by some great comedic moments from Jack Reynor and Will Poulter as fairly undeniable assholes throughout the film.
Fargo (1996)
Fargo is another perfect dark comedy for this list, and might just be the crown jewel of the sprawling catalogue of films belonging to writer/director duo Joel and Ethan Coen. The brothers have gotten acclaim throughout their career, but no movie better captures their style than this polite midwestern crime story that constantly steps the line between distrubing and dryly hilarious. It's a movie so specifically in its own lane that its now inspired four seasons of similarly-themed television—and for good reason. It's a modern classic.
Sorry to Bother You (2018)
Sorry to Bother You is the debut film from Boots Riley, who was previously best known for his Oakland-based hip-hop group The Coup and social activism. But he proved to be a natural with this debut satire that paints working people against its biggest villain: capitalism. LaKeith Stanfield plays Cassius, a Black man who rises through the ranks of his telemarketing firm when he realizes he can make more sales using his "white" voice. Armie Hammer is a standout as the Bezos-esque villain.
The movie has way more twists than you would ever expect, some incredible visual choices throughout, and a jam-filled soundtrack. Not only one of the best dark comedies, but one of the best movies of the 2010s in general.
World's Greatest Dad (2008)
This underrated and underseen 2008 Robin Williams flick finds him as a dad with a stressed relationship with his son (Daryl Sabara from Spy Kids)—until he discovers something awful, and manipulates it. This movie takes things to a very dark place, and Williams delivers what might have been his most understated but heartbreaking performances.
Inglorious Basterds (2009)
You can probably classify most of Quentin Tarantino's movies as at least including elements of dark comedy, but Inglorious Basterds definitely goes the furthest with it. Take every WWII story you've heard, and add a bit of an edge (aided by great performances from Christoph Waltz, Melanie Laurent, and Brad Pitt, among others), and you've got a historical story without a real genre set against that very familiar WWII backdrop.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Our heroes, played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis, die almost instantly in this Tim Burton bizarro film that features posession, monsters, demons, and song and dance numbers. If you wanted the lightest dark comedy on the list, it's certainly Beetlejuice, which might be the only feel-good movie about dying ever made.
The character of Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), a sort of demonic spirit with a wicked sense of humor, is iconic and the namesake of the movie—but he only appears for a handful of scenes. (Which is a testament to how great Michael Keaton's performance was.)
Death to Smoochy (2002)
Another movie where Robin Williams takes a swing into the dark (he was obviously more than just the guy from Mrs. Doubtfire and Flubber), Death to Smoochy tells the story of a children's TV host (Williams) who loses his job following a scandal and is replaced by a younger and more dynamic replacement (Edward Norton as a Barney-esque purple rhino). A dark crime story that Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya may just have been inspired by for his upcoming "dark" Barney movie?
Knives Out (2019)
Knives Out is far from the darkest movie on the list, but it does sprinkle a good bit of humor in, as most Rian Johnson movies do. The perfect way to describe Knives Out would probably be as a darkly comedic whodunnit—most of the characters here are horrible people, and their behavior is played in a Succession-esque manor: for laughs.
Super (2011)
Before James Gunn was the Guardians of the Galaxy guy or the man DC is trusting with The Suicide Squad, he made some edgy, gritty movies. One of them was 2011's Super, which sort of has the feeling of a spiritual prequel to something like The Boys. A violent, vulgar revenge fantasy in the shape of a superhero crime thriller, Super tells a compelling story with some dark laughs—and legitimate shocks—along the way.
Observe and Report (2009)
This movie has often been confused with Paul Blart: Mall Cop—both are about mall security guards, came out right around the same time, and have that same sort of visual look—but the movies are nothing alike. Observe and Report features one of Seth Rogen's best performances, as a mentally ill and at times morally questionable man who we see hungry for power in his world—which just happens to be a local suburban shopping mall. There are some parts of this movie that you'd imagine Rogen and company might wish they could have back, but from top to bottom this is an entertaining, funny movie that's just depraved and dark enough to please fans of this list.
Assassination Nation (2018)
Imagine Euphoria—but the town the high school is set in devolves into anarchy. That's basically the plot of Assassination Nation, which was directed by Sam Levinson (who created Euphoria). The cast includes a number of familiar names, including Bella Thorne, Joel McHale, Suki Waterhouse, Hari Nef, and Bill Skarsgård (among others), and it's nearly as bonkers as Euphoria itself. A great soundtrack coupled with some hyper-stylized visuals make this a great one for anyone seeking a little bit of madness.
American Psycho (2000)
The movie that made Christian Bale as big a star as he remains today, American Psycho to many might be the dark comedy. Equal parts brutally violent and dryly hilarious, Patrick Bateman is one of the most memorable characters of the century for a reason. Remember, you could have watched this movie, but you were stuck returning videotapes.
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
Taika Waititi won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Jojo Rabbit, which tells a coming-of-age story in an almost Mel Brooks manner of a young Hitler superfan (he's 10 years old living in Nazi Germany, and even continually talks with an imaginary Hitler friend (played by Waititi)) who eventually finds a Jewish girl living in his home. That description sounds crude and risque, and, well, with this list that comes with the territory. But Jojo Rabbit is a sweet movie that tells a movie with a whole lot of heart—and you'll be laughing and crying and laughing all along the way.
This Is The End (2013)
This Is The End might be the funniest movie on the list, and it's certainly the most original. Seth Rogen and his usual gang of friends—Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, and Jonah Hill—are hanging out a massive, celebrity-filled party at James Franco's house, and then the apocalypse quite literally happens. How would a bunch of rich celebs survive the end of the world? Find out in This is the End, and keep an eye out for Michael Cera's incredible portrayal of "Michael Cera."
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Mel Brooks' classic western satire is one of the OG dark comedies; not only a send-up of an entire genre, but a satire on the stupid mindset that racist in the Wild, Wild, West (or anywhere else) have. Gene Wilder and Cleavon Little are perfection.
Burn After Reading (2008)
Another entry from The Coen Brothers, who just know how to do this kind of thing. Burn After Reading is similar to Fargo in the fact that its telling a small-time, screwball crime-adjacent story; this one also ties in a thread about inept government agency screw-ups. Featuring Frances McDormand, George Clooney, John Malkovich, and one of the most entertaining Brad Pitt performances of all time.
Heathers (1988)
Heathers is a perfect pick for this list in that it's a teen comedy and a dark thriller rolled into one package. '80s icons Winona Ryder and Christian Slater give some of their best work here as an outsider-in-nature girl who doesn't feel comfortable being friends with the popular clique, and the new kid sociopath who she teams up with to bust loose.
Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)
Do you like slasher movies? Those are basically black comedy in and of themselves, but Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon takes things a step further. The movie is basically a Spinal Tap-style mockumentary focusing on a man's desire to become the next Jason or Freddy. Freddy himself, Robert Englund, is here to grant the movie both his approval and as a fun little meta-joke.
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